Bob Arum: Gennady Golovkin-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. eyed for July 12

Negotiations are ongoing for a 168-pound bout between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and WBA middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin on July 12 at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum informed RingTV.com on Friday.

"We're negotiating it for July 12," said Arum, who originally shared that sentiment, among others, during a press conference earlier this month in New York, site of the June 7 clash between RING and WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez and Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden.

"The Forum in LA would be the place. Julio's not going to make 160 unless he cuts off his arm. The fight's going to be at 168. It's certainly a fight that a lot of people will pay attention to. It's going to generate a lot of interest and that's why it's a great fight for both of them."

Chavez (48-1-1, 32 knockouts) is coming off consecutive unanimous decisions over Bryan Vera, the rematch being a super middleweight bout on March 1. Golovkin (29-0, 26 KOs) is coming off last month's seventh-round stoppage of Osumanu Adama, representing his 16th straight knockout victory.

Another consideration for Chavez had been former WBC 175-pound beltholder Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs), who recently won a unanimous decision over Lucian Bute in January.